The Ultimate Diabetes and the Heart Quiz

One of the most important organs in the body, the heart can be negatively affected by diabetes and health complications related to diabetes, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. It is vital that you protect your heart, especially if you have diabetes. Take this quiz and learn how diabetes affects heart health.

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Question 1 of 20

People with diabetes are ______ to have a heart condition compared to people without diabetes.

less likely

just as likely

more likely

People with diabetes are two to six times more likely to have a heart condition compared to the general population. Yet, it is unclear why people with diabetes are at increased risk for heart problems.

Question 2 of 20

High levels of insulin in the blood may lead to ________.

atherosclerosis

There is some research that suggests high levels of insulin in people with diabetes can lead to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is essentially plaque build-up in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack.

heart valve dysfunctions

both of the above

Question 3 of 20

What are advanced glycosylation end products?

glucose and insulin compounds

glucose and protein compounds

Advanced glycosylation end products, also known as AGEs, are chemical compounds made of glucose and protein, which increase in number with age or if you have diabetes.

glucose and blood compounds

Question 4 of 20

How do advanced glycosylation end products place you at risk for heart disease?

They cause heart valve malformations.

They thicken your blood.

They damage arteries.

Advanced glycosylation end products are believed to damage arteries by making them clogged. This can lead to heart disease and a bunch of other serious health complications.

Question 5 of 20

Why is high blood pressure called a “silent disease”?

People don't report high blood pressure symptoms to their doctors.

People don't talk about their high blood pressure problems.

High blood pressure has no symptoms.

People may claim they experience symptoms related to high blood pressure, but high blood pressure actually has no symptoms. This is why it's called a “silent disease.”

Question 6 of 20

How is high blood pressure related to heart problems?

It puts extra pressure on your heart.

It leads to artery damage.

both of the above

Chronic high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, makes your heart work harder and damages your arteries.

Question 7 of 20

What percentage of people with diabetes have hypertension?

25 percent

50 percent

A staggering 50 percent of people with diabetes have chronic high blood pressure. Hypertension places these individuals at increased risk for diabetes related health complications.

75 percent

Question 8 of 20

What does good cholesterol do in the body?

It kills bad cholesterol.

It cleans up the mess left behind from bad cholesterol.

Good cholesterol, also known as high-density lipoprotein or HDL, acts like a vacuum cleaner and cleans up leftover bad cholesterol.

both of the above

Question 9 of 20

People with type 2 diabetes tend to have a higher amount of:

small and dense bad cholesterol particles

Bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein or LDL, comes in two forms, puffy and buoyant particles, and small and dense particles. People with type 2 diabetes tend to have a higher amount of the small and dense kind.

puffy and buoyant bad cholesterol particles

both of the above

Question 10 of 20

Why are small and dense LDL particles bad for you?

Good cholesterol cannot easily clean up these particles.

These particles can get stuck in your arteries.

Small and dense LDL particles, because of their composition, can easily get stuck in arteries, causing plaque buildup.

These particles kill good cholesterol.

Question 11 of 20

People with type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of having high triglyceride levels in their blood. How do high triglyceride levels occur?

from eating more food than is needed

Triglycerides are used as backup energy in the body. When you eat too much food, more than you need, you can end up if high triglyceride levels in your blood. This places you at risk for heart disease.

from eating too many monosaturated fats

both of the above

Question 12 of 20

What is fibrinogen?

a protein for blood clotting

People with type 2 diabetes tend to have elevated levels of fibrinogen, which is a protein used for blood clotting. If your levels of fibrinogen are too high, you can end up with blood clots in your arteries.

a type of artery plaque buildup

a form of heart disease

Question 13 of 20

Strokes are similar to:

heart attacks

Strokes occur when there is a loss of blood to the brain. Similarly, heart attacks are the result of loss of blood to the heart.

toxic shock syndrome

asthma attacks

Question 14 of 20

People with diabetes are ________ times more likely to experience a stroke compared to the general population.

two to three

Diabetes increases your risk of experiencing a stroke by two to three times. A stroke is a serious and potentially life threatening condition that can lead to brain damage or death.

three to four

four to five

Question 15 of 20

What is an ischemic stroke?

a stroke that reoccurs several times

a small stroke that causes no brain damage

a stroke that is the result of a blocked blood vessel

Ischemic strokes are the result of a blocked blood vessel that leads to the brain. Ischemic strokes account for 80 to 85 percent of all attacks.

Question 16 of 20

How does a blocked blood vessel leading to the brain occur?

from plaque buildup

from a blood clot

both of the above

A blocked blood vessel can occur from years of plaque buildup due to high triglyceride levels and high LDL levels. A blocked blood vessel can also occur when a blood clot breaks lose from another part of the body and gets stuck in a blood vessel that leads to the brain.

Question 17 of 20

What is a hemorrhagic stroke?

a stroke that occurs several times

a blood vessel in the brain that bursts

Blood is like poison for the brain, killing any brain matter it touches. This is why a hemorrhagic stroke can be so damaging. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or leaks.

a stroke that is the result of a semi-blocked blood vessel

Question 18 of 20

Hemorrhagic strokes occur ______ in people with diabetes compared to the general population.

less often

just as often

Hemorrhagic strokes represent 15 to 20 percent of all strokes. People with diabetes are not at increased risk for experiencing hemorrhagic strokes compared to the general population.

more often

Question 19 of 20

What are signs of heart failure?

fatigue and shortness of breath

Heart failure results when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently. Seek medical attention if you experience early signs of heart failure, such as fatigue and shortness of breath.

chest pain and dizziness

difficulty breathing and dizziness

Question 20 of 20

Why are people with diabetes at increased risk of developing heart failure?

Insulin injections weaken the heart.

High blood glucose levels weaken the heart.

An elevated blood glucose level has been linked to weakening the heart, leading to heart failure. This condition is called cardiac myopathy.